Facilities Action Team Report

Objective 1.h. Enhance academic programs by ensuring regular maintenance and upgrading of equipment and laboratory facilities as the need is demonstrated, most immediately in the Departments of Biology/Geology, Chemistry, Mathematical Sciences, Psychology, Visual and Performing Arts, Ruth Patrick SEC, and the Wellness Center

Strategy 1.h.1.  Collect data from individual departments to develop a comprehensive list of capital equipment and furnishings, along with associated life-cycle replacement requirement

Cost:  Zero, Time only 

Designated person/unit:  Director of Operations

                        Rationale:  Need to ensure regular maintenance and upgrading of equipment

Strategy 1.h.2.  Ensure that preventative maintenance schedules are developed and funded to support the routine care of capital equipment and to extend equipment life cycles to the maximum extent reasonable

Cost:  $$, on-going

Designated person/unit: Director of Operations, IPC

                        Rationale: Embedded in strategy

Measure: 1.h.a.  Complete the schedules and evaluate funding requirements (5/7 received).

Measure: 1.h.b.  Appropriate annual operating funds to support equipment upkeep.

Objective 7.h.  Ensure adequate staffing and support prior to establishment of new programs and facilities and/or before making significant changes to existing programs and facilities.   

Strategy: 7.h.1.  Modify the process for approving academic program proposals to include a facilities impact assessment to be provided by the following:

            Director of Operations (office space, facility usage, staffing)

            Academic Council (classroom space, office and meeting space)

            Chief Information Officer (technology requirements)

            Assistant Registrar (availability of classrooms)

Cost:  Zero, time only

            Designated person/unit: Director of Operations

Rationale:  Existing process does not consider facilities needs for new programs

Strategy: 7.h.2.  Develop a comprehensive, coordinated review process for approval of support programs to be certain that the impact on facilities is taken into consideration

                        Designated person/unit:  Monday Group

                        Cost:  Zero

Rationale:  Existing process does not consider facilities needs for new programs

Measure: 7.h.b.  Facilities review process has been implemented.

Objective 11.a.  Develop and implement policies and practices that ensure the most effective use of classroom space

Strategy:  11.a.1.    Identify and purchase appropriate software to automate scheduling process for all campus facilities.

Cost:  $$

Designated person/unit: Office of the Registrar, CIO

Rationale:  Antiquated and time-consuming methods for facilities and classroom scheduling are used. Automating the system would increase the efficiency of scheduling, allowing for tracking of over/under utilized classrooms.

Strategy:  11.a.2.  Revise class schedules as appropriate to maximize use of facilities and reduce scheduling voids  (M, W classes for Friday voids, non-standard start/stop times, etc.)

Cost:  (savings)

Designated person/unit:  Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Academic Council, Associate Registrar          

Rationale:  Embedded in strategy

Strategy:  11.a.3.  Identify and determine the reason for low- and high-utilization rates of classrooms, and use the information to renovate and equip classrooms to allow for optimal utilization, (for example, add LCD projectors, modify furnishings, modify configurations, or undertake other modifications)

Cost: $$

Designated person/unit:  Director of Operations, Associate Registrar, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Academic Council

Rationale:  Embedded in strategy         

Strategy:  11.a.4.    Determine the advantages/disadvantages of dividing one or more auditoriums into smaller classrooms    

Cost:  Zero

Designated person/unit:  Facilities Master Planning Group, Director of Operations, Associate Registrar, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Academic Council, Director of Continuing Education

Rationale:  Divide low use auditorium into 2 classrooms  for optimal space utilization     

Measure: 11.a.a.  Increased use of classroom space previously identified as under utilized

            Objective 11.b.  Maintain an attractive, safe and secure campus environment

Strategy:  11.b.1.  Strengthen Public Safety by addressing turnover/training/supervision issues/staffing levels, including the possibility of a campus dispatch

                        Cost:  $$-$$$

Designated person/unit: Monday Group, Outside Consultant

Rationale:  Liability risks including health and safety issues for campus community plus high turnover rates of staff are problems.

Strategy:  11.b.2.  Replace stairs between Humanities and Social Science and the Science Buildings, adding landing with seating area (See also Obj. 11d)

Cost:  $$ Funding through Tuition bond

Designated person/unit:  Director of Operations

                                    Rationale:  Safety issue and an opportunity to generate additional space for student use (see Strategy 11.d.2.)

Strategy:  11.b.3.  Include a plan for preservation of green spaces in the Master Plan

                                     Cost:  zero

                                    Designated person/unit: Director of Operations and Biology Faculty

                                    Rationale:  Need to maintain attractiveness of grounds as campus continues to grow

Strategy:  11.b.4.  Implement a one-card system for access and safety

Cost estimate: 35 – 100K depending on the number of buildings/doors wired.  Each additional door is $400. ($$$)

Designated person/unit:  Chief Information Officer

Rationale:  Numerous advantages including controlled access checkpoints for new housing and computer labs, eliminating the need for Public Safety to unlock doors.

Strategy:  11.b.5.  Improve the appearance of the “outer campus” (non-quad areas), including screening parking lots and utility easements

Cost:  $$ - ACCHE funds currently being used to purchase bushes, small trees and other plantings for the outer perimeter of campus

                                        Designated person/unit:  Director of Operations

                                        Rationale:  Embedded in strategy

Strategy:  11.b.6.  Explore cost feasibility and placement of additional surveillance cameras on campus, including parking lots

Cost:  $$

Designated person/unit: Associate Chancellor for Student Life & Services, Department of Public Safety, CIO

Rationale:  Safety

Measure: 11.b.a.  Revised Master Plan includes a design for the preservation of green space.

Measure: 11.b.b.  Revised Master Plan includes design for improvement of the appearance of the areas other than the quadrangle.

Measure: 11.b.c.  Appropriate funds on an annual basis from Aiken County Commission on Higher Ed allocation or other sources.

Objective 11.c.  Address office and meeting space needs in the Humanities and Social Sciences Building, the Penland Administration Building, and the Etherredge Center

Strategy:  11.c.1.  Determine short-term solutions to space requirements identified in the 2001 Space Survey (for example, space reassignments, minor renovations, etc.           

Cost:  $$-$$$

Designated person/unit:  Director of Operations

Rationale:  Embedded in strategy

Strategy:  11.c.2.  Construct a new academic building within three to five years to address the space needs of departments in the Humanities and Social Science and Penland Administration Building

Cost: Approximately $6,500,000 (State supported Capital Improvement Bonds)

Designated person/unit:  Director of Operations (involving faculty/staff in these buildings), Master Planning Group

Rationale:  Current assessments indicate there are few satisfactory short-term solutions to the growing space needs.

Strategy:  11.c.3.  Ensure that the need for expansion of the Etherredge Center is addressed in the Master Plan and Comprehensive Permanent Improvement Plan, with completion prior to 2010

Cost:  Etherredge Center - $3,500,000 based on the 2002 CPIP to be funded through Tuition Bonds and CIB

Designated person/unit:  Director of Operations

Rationale:  Embedded in strategy

Measure: 11.c.a.  Integrate solutions into planning documents (CPIP and Master Plan)

Measure: 11.c.b.  Obtain capital funding and begin construction of new academic building.

Measure: 11.c.c.  Obtain capital funding and begin construction of Etherredge Center expansion.

Objective 11.d.  Create more space for student use throughout campus, especially for study and student activities

Strategy:  11.d.1.  Incorporate group study rooms and common areas in the library renovations planned for Summer 2004.  Include the possibility of a Library café/coffee bar.

Cost:  Total renovations $1.8 million, including roof and HVAC replacement.

Designated person/unit:  Director of Operations, Director of the Library

Targeted source – tuition bonds.  Additional funding may be sought through food service provider for funding (café/coffee bar) $$-$$$

Rationale:  Current library lacks stimulating atmosphere for student engagement in study and research.

Strategy:  11.d.2. Create indoor and outdoor common areas for student interaction, including swings in the quad, new study space in Penland and Science Buildings and improvements in study space in the B&E and H&SS Buildings.

                       Cost:   $$ -_ACCHE funding currently being used for some of these areas

                        Designated person/unit:  Director of Operations

Rationale:  Embedded in strategy

Strategy:  11.d.3. Develop plan for SAC renovation that preserves the building for student activities and student support functions.  Include development of the café patio and outdoor seating area.

Cost:  $2.5 million already appropriated (Capital Improvement Bonds).

Designated person/unit: Director of Operations, Associate Chancellor for Student Life and Services

Rationale:  Need to create a vibrant center for student life activities.

Strategy:  11.d.4. Review and revise policies for use of existing space by student organizations

 Cost: Zero

Designated person/unit: Associate Chancellor for Student Life and Services in coordination with Campus Scheduling Committee

Rationale:  More efficient use of space

          Strategy 11.d.5.  Plan for student space needs in new construction and existing building renovations.

Cost: Zero

Designated person/unit:  Director of Operations

Rationale:  Embedded in strategy

Measure: 11.d.a. Master Plan to include areas for student study and interaction [TA1] 

Measure: 11.d.b. Successful development of student study space

Measure: 11.d.c.  Improved student satisfaction with campus scheduling/reservation system
 

Objective 11.e.   Schedule and fund deferred maintenance

Strategy 11e.1. Annually update the deferred maintenance list, adding capital equipment and furnishings that require replacement, and integrate it into capital funding schedules, including the Comprehensive Permanent Improvement Plan (CPIP).

                        Cost:  $$$ (Capital project funds)

Designated person/unit:  Director of Operations

Rationale:  Need to ensure regular maintenance and upgrading of equipment and furnishings

Measure: 11.e.a.  Identify available resources from Institutional Capital Project Funds and/or tuition bonds.

  Measure: 11.e.b.  Reduce deferred maintenance backlog through completion of identified projects, such as H & SS
   renovation in Summer 2003 and Library in Summer 2004.

Objective 11.f.   Build additional on-campus student housing

Strategy:  11.f.1. Obtain approval from Commission of Higher Education and USC Board of Trustees (completed)

             Cost:   $$$ (Revenue bonds)

            Designated person/unit:  Chancellor

            Rationale:  Need to address student housing demand

Strategy:  11.f.2.  Examine possible impact of additional housing on other services and facilities (for example, the Health Center, Library, Public Safety, Food Services, SAC) and plan adjustments/improvements accordingly.

Cost:  $

            Designated person/unit:  Monday Group

            Rationale:  Embedded in strategy

Measure: 11.f.a.  New facility opens in Fall 2004, ground breaking in June 2003

Objective 11.h.  More actively pursue funding alternatives for completion of the Convocation Center

Strategy 11.h.1.  Implement a formalized capital campaign for the convocation center, identifying potential use for the Convocation Center and seeking targeted private financial support as appropriate.

Cost:  $

Designated person/unit: Chancellor, Associate Chancellor for Development in coordination with Assistant Chancellor for External Affairs

Rationale:  Embedded in strategy

Strategy 11.h.2. Follow up on funding alternatives for road improvements.

                        Cost:  Zero

Designated person/unit:  Director of Operations

Rationale:  Embedded in strategy

             Strategy 11.h.3.  Provide USC legislative liaisons with information regarding grant sources for construction projects relating to
             economic impact to the area, including the Disaster Relief Center (hurricane evacuation route) and Green Building design (DOE
             design for sustainability).

                        Cost:  Zero

Designated person/unit:  Director of Operations, Director of Sponsored Research

Rationale:  To ensure legislative liaisons' understanding of USC Aiken's needs      

Measure: 11.h.a. Implement capital campaign.

Measure: 11.h.b. Apply for road improvement funds.

Measure: 11.h.c. Establish capital campaign strategies by refining potential donor list and corporate sponsors, matching areas of
             interest

Measure: 11.h.d. Develop campaign promotional materials including renderings of the arena, VIP room, lobby, and building exterior.  [TA2]